1. Please introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Jusung Kang. I enrolled in a combined master’s and Ph.D. program in the spring of 2013 and obtained my doctorate last year under the supervision of Professor Heung-No Lee. Currently, I am working as a senior researcher at the Edge Computing Application Service Research Laboratory at the Honam Branch of the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in South Korea.

2. What inspired you to pursue a career in research?

My decision to become a researcher stemmed from a seemingly small but impactful experience.

When I was in high school, it was common for students to participate in university tours to spark their academic interest. During one of these tours, I had the opportunity to visit the universities and research labs where my two older cousins—both of whom had earned Ph.D. degrees—were conducting their research.

I was deeply impressed by the sight of them emerging from their research environment, taking a short break to greet me after being fully immersed in their work. That moment left a lasting impression on me, inspiring me to pursue a life dedicated to technological research.

Through this experience, I learned that dreams don’t have to be grand or overly specific; what matters is having a goal that keeps you moving forward. Looking back, that small yet powerful memory laid the foundation for my perseverance and passion for research.

3. What was the focus of your Ph.D. research?

My research primarily focused on RF (radio frequency) signal processing.

Coincidentally, around the time I joined the research lab, a large-scale project called the "Electronic Warfare Research Center" was launched. As part of this initiative, I conducted research on AI-based RF signal processing applications.

One key area of my study was user authentication using RF measurement signals. For instance, even if you and I were using the exact same smartphone model, a deep analysis of physical-layer signals could reveal unique analog characteristics specific to each device. This research was particularly relevant to security applications, helping to defend against hacking attempts. Additionally, it had potential applications in military electronic warfare, where it could be used to identify adversarial radio equipment.

4. What research are you currently working on?

Currently, I am focusing on on-device AItechnology.

This involves optimizing and compressing AI models for neural processing units (NPUs)—specialized chips designed for AI inference. My research primarily targets small-scale NPUs for edge computing applications.

For example, there is a compact NPU called Hailo, which is about the size of two fingertips. This tiny yet powerful chip can be integrated into systems such as kindergarten CCTV cameras to enable AI-driven user recognition and behavior detection.

One key takeaway I’d like to share is that the research you conduct during your Ph.D. does not necessarily have to align perfectly with your work after graduation. However, having a solid understanding of engineering and science principles, along with diverse experiences,can be invaluable in adapting to new research challenges.

5. What was the most rewarding moment in your research journey?

Many Ph.D. holders would likely agree that one of the most fulfilling moments in their research journey is when their first paper gets accepted for publication.

In my case, since my research involved analyzing the analog characteristics of RF signals—a highly sensitive area—getting my first paper published was significantly delayed due to data sensitivity issues. After many challenges and setbacks, my paper was finally accepted, and at that moment, I felt a sense of clarity and relief, as if the fog had lifted.

I’ve seen many graduate students struggle with self-doubt, especially after investing significant time and effort into their research. My advice is to stay confident and keep producing meaningful results along the way—eventually, you will achieve the outcome you’ve been striving for.

6. How did you manage stress during your research?

Whenever I encountered a roadblock in my research, I made a conscious effort to step outside the labto find solutions.

One of the biggest stressors in research is when things don’t go as planned. When that happens, staying in the lab can lead to a cycle of repetitive thoughts, making it even harder to break through the problem.

To counter this, I would take breaks by watching movies, exercising, or even going out for drinks. By temporarily distancing myself from research, I was often able to return with a fresh perspective and resolve issues that previously seemed unsolvable.

7. What are your future research plans?

The AI field is rapidly evolving, with several major trends emerging this year, including on-device AI, AI agents, AI semiconductors, and sovereign AI.

These trends suggest that, beyond simply following large-scale AI models from companies like Google or OpenAI, there is growing importance in developing smaller, more specialized AI models that can collaborate and operate efficiently.

Personally, I am particularly interested in optimizing the operation of AI models on on-device AI systems. Moving forward, I aim to address the unresolved challengesfrom my Ph.D. research and contribute to this growing field.

8. What are your personal goals for the future?

Last year, my primary focus was adapting to my new role after completing my Ph.D.

This year, I plan to quickly acquire any remaining knowledge and skills I need, while steadily working toward my research goals. On a personal level, I also want to focus on improving my health, as I gained a significant amount of weight during the final stages of my Ph.D.

9. Any final words you’d like to share?

I want to emphasize that "No work is ever truly useless."

Although I’ve been in the professional world for less than a year, I’ve already realized how valuable even the most seemingly trivial tasks from my Ph.D.have been in my current job. There were times during my Ph.D. when I thought,"Why am I doing this?"and simply went through the motions. However, many of those tasks turned out to be incredibly useful in unexpected ways.

Looking back, I sometimes wonder if I could have progressed even faster had I approached those tasks with more enthusiasm and efficiency. But if there’s one piece of advice I’d like to give to current students, it’s this: Every bit of research and work you do now will become valuable in the future. Keep pushing forward with confidence, and before you know it, you’ll be making meaningful contributions to society.

Lastly, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor, Professor Heung-No Lee. Thank you for your unwavering support and guidance despite my stubborn nature as a student. Thanks to your mentorship, I am now navigating the professional world with confidence. I haven’t had the chance to properly visit you since graduation, but I promise to do so soon.

Thank you, Professor.